Information about Route

This is a basic route showing the route that I use in my speedruns. It has alternate strats listed where necessary, but I rarely use those.

It is important to note that, like many other routes here, this assumes you know how to beat the game. It is hard to give tutorials for those who haven't yet beaten it.

It'll also have shop references for those running on the Japanese version.

If you are running on the English version, I highly recommend using the Red version, as Nidoran Males have a high encounter rate on Route 22.

If you are running on the Japanese version, I recommend either using the Blue Version, as Nidoran Males have a "'very high'" encounter rate on Route 22, and these are most likely Level 4's, which means you can determine if your Nido is runnable easier.

This route works really well on an emulator (Dark Brown Pallet), or on a CGB or AGB/GBP (press Up+B on BIOS screen). This activates the "cheater pallet" which helps for Rock Tunnel

Battle notes (Japanese users will need to read this)

For moves used by the foe, it is a general rule of thumb that:

Moves that quickly shake the screen vertically are attacking moves

Moves that slowly shake the screen horizontally are status moves

If it doesn't shake, either it missed, or it was an X-Item used.

I "'will'" tell you the order of the first four moves by each battling Pokemon here:

If playing on Blue, this doesn't apply, since Japanese versions check the bottom left corner to identify a tile, so walk through the minimum amount of grass tiles needed while avoiding trainers.

Also grab the antidote after the first major patch of grass

In both cases, you should get 0-1 encounters, but you can get 2 on Blue if unlucky.

Grab potion that is in the line of sight of the bug catcher before battling him

Bug Catcher: Tail Whip x2, then Tackle (x4-5 depending on attack DV)

Potion if necessary, but don't cure poison until after fight.

After Weedle is KO'd, Squirtle will now be L8, and learn Bubble in attack slot 3

After out of the grass, switch Nidoran and Squirtle, and cure poison if necessary, and haven't already.

Potion Squirtle if his HP<17

Head to Brock's Gym (""do not take center here"")

Head around the trainer in the gym and save before Brock in case something bad happens

Initiate battle with Brock

B R O C K: Switch to Squirtle and Bubble x2-3 on both Pokemon

After the Geodude, you will be prompted to switch Pokemon, do so, and switch to Nidoran, then follow procedure above.

Potion when necessary

If bided on turn 1, tail whip, until he unleashes no energy, then bubble

Squirtle will be L10 and benched

Nidoran will be L8 and learn Horn Attack in slot 3. Stats and DV's are shown below.

Switch battle style (3rd option) to SET (right) after Brock.

Level 8 NidoranM Stats

DV

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

HP

25

25

25

25

26

26

26

26

26

26

27

27

27

27

27

27

Attack

14

14

14

14

14

15

15

15

15

15

15

16

16

16

16

16

Defense

11

11

11

12

12

12

12

12

12

13

13

13

13

13

13

14

Speed

13

13

13

13

13

13

14

14

14

14

14

14

15

15

15

15

Special

11

11

11

11

12

12

12

12

12

12

13

13

13

13

13

13

Protip: HP doesn't matter in the chart. Following the rules on which Nido to accept, will never give you 14 attack. What you are really looking for is one of the stats in following triplet of Attack, Speed, and Special to be one higher than listed. 15/13/11

Go to the Mart and buy 10 potions, then head to Route 3

Before the first trainer on route 3 is battled, it is a wise idea to save, but you do not have to.

Route 3

Bug Catcher 1: Leer, Horn Attack x2 all Pokemon.

If Attack at L9 is 18, then you have perfect DV attack. congrats to you

Nidoran will be L10 after fight

After fight, heal to full/near full, and save

Shorts guy: Leer, Horn Attack x2 all Pokemon.

Heal when necessary, and hopefully don't get wrapped by Ekans

After fight, heal if at 1-3 HP.

Save before fighting the next trainer (the one near the ledge)

Next two bug catchers: spam Horn Attack unless opposing Pokemon is below 1/5 of its HP and doesn't use harden. (also swap slots 1+3 at the start of the first fight.

Hope for crits, as they ignore all stay changes done to a Pokemon.

After the last trainer, Nido will be L14, and learn Poison Sting in slot 4

After these trainers avoid the trainer in the grass. Also, when here, catch a Pidgey/Spearow (hit it once)

Prioritize Pidgey on J (Blue only), and Spearow on Red. This is so you can trade it for a Farfetch'd.

Take the center before entering Mt. Moon

Mt. Moon

Follow the route with the blue line

First item picked up is TM12, then a Rare candy, then the escape rope, then a moon stone.

Trainers fought (in order):

Super Nerd: Horn Attack, Poison Sting if opponent is at low HP.

Nidoran is now L15

Lass: Horn Attack all Pokemon.

Nidoran is now L16, and will evolve into Nidorino. Let it evolve, and after that, teach TM12 (Water Gun) over Tackle (Slot 2)

Hiker: Spam Water Gun

Right before the Rocket Grunt fight, you should have used the moon stone on Nidorino

Nugget Bridge

Go behind the house that gives the information on the badges and find this rare candy.

R I V A L 2: Horn Attack all.

If sand-attacked, switch to Pidgey, and let the Pidgeotto KO it, then go back to Nido. Heal on Abra if necessary.

Nugget Bridge

Trainers 1, 2, and 3: Horn Attack, Poison Sting if needed

Nidoking will be L20 after Trainer 2, and L21 after Trainer 3.

After Trainer 3, use the two rare candies to get Nidoking to L23. It will learn Thrash. Overwrite Leer (Slot 3 if you forgot) so it can learn Thrash, the best move for speedrunning until we get TM07, TM26, and TM27

Trainers 4, 5 and Rocket: Thrash (Switch slots 1 and 3 before executing the first thrash on Trainer 4)

Route 25, Bill's, and Misty

Route 25

There are two hikers at the start of this route. Take the lower path, so you fight the bottom Hiker.

This hiker has one Onix, so just using Water Gun on it will KO it.

Avoid the youngsters and the top hiker, and fight the lass.

All other trainers on this route, you will use Thrash for.

After the lass, fight the Jr. Trainer (guy on top), and not the hiker (who's on the bottom)

Let him walk up to you

Head right after this battle, and fight the lass before Bill's.

After this battle, pick up the hidden Ether (it is on the fence tile immediately next to where the lass was.

Enter Bill's, help him out, and get S.S. Ticket.

After you get the S.S Ticket, escape rope out.

M I S T Y

Heal at center

Head into gym, and go around the first trainer here.

Thrash the Goldeen before Misty

Nidoking will be L25 This is very important, as it makes this battle somewhat possible

Save before fight (it is very hard)

M I S T Y: Thrash

Hopefully you get the Staryu damage range, and don't get critical'd by Starmie twice.

If you lose, you can soft reset (A+B+Sel+St) and try again.

After fight, you will get TM11 (Bubblebeam). Teach it to Nidoking over Water Gun.

Beginner Strat: Heal at center, then save the game, and continue onto the next section.

Exit out of the Gym, and go to the Pokemon Fan Club to get the Bike Voucher. After collecting it, use Dig to return to Cerulean City. Which is why you don't center at Vermillion. Ever.

Route 9

After landing, heal at the center, and get the bike.

One of the greatest menuing tricks in history: Swap item in second slot with Bike, go up to TM24 (Thunderbolt/10 Volt Shock [J]) and teach it over Horn Attack. Go to Repels, swap them with slot 1's item, and Swap bike and Repels.

From this point on, you will be biking from point A to B, unless told so

Bike to the cut bush nearby, cut it down, and head to Route 9.

Cut down bush blocking off Route 9, and talk to the Lass from above.

Lass: Thrash (will have to risk a 4 turn here)

Fight the bug catcher to the east (may have to risk 4-turn here)

If you don't feel confident about that, Thunderbolt the Caterpie, then Thrash.